Monmouth Mall: Public concerned about 700 apartments

An architect and resident discuss the buffer zone for the proposed apartments at Monmouth Mall

Board Chairman Mark Woloshin turns the page of the plans. The Eatontown Planning Board considered plans for the renovation of Monmouth Mall during a meeting on Monday, April 16, 2018. / Russ DeSantis for the Asbury Park Press(Photo: Russ DeSantis, Russ DeSantis)

EATONTOWN - For a second time, the Monmouth Mall Planning Board redesign hearings drew a capacity crowd to the 130-seat meeting room at Borough Hall, asking questions about the plan to bring 700 apartments to the property.

At the first hearing April 2, the board heard designs for the mall's new retail and commercial footprint as well as its landscape architectural features.

This time, on Monday evening, residents were presented with architectural plans for the mixed-use building that will house 700 apartments — the most contentious part of the redesign being pitched by owners Kushner Cos. and Rouse Properties.

The two owners, which together form the limited-liability company Eatontown Monmouth Mall, are seeking board approval for new retail, recreational and commercial uses, plus the addition of a residential component featuring 700 rental apartments.

Edward R. Bradford of The Architectural Team, a Chelsea, Massachusetts, firm, said podium-style architecture, which incorporates multiple stories of wood over an elevated concrete slab, is proposed for the mixed-use building.

He said it will have the appearance of being multiple buildings due to varying roof heights of 47, 54, 65 and 75 feet. However, a bridge connects them to form one continuous building.

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Christian M. Roche, Senior Associate (left) and Leonard D. Savino, Principal, both of Langan, go over plans prior to the meeting. The Eatontown Planning Board considered plans for the renovation of Monmouth Mall during a meeting on Monday, April 16, 2018. / Russ DeSantis for the Asbury Park Press Russ DeSantis, Russ DeSantis

Edward R. Bradford of The Architectural Team, Inc, testifies before the board. The Eatontown Planning Board considered plans for the renovation of Monmouth Mall during a meeting on Monday, April 16, 2018. / Russ DeSantis for the Asbury Park Press Russ DeSantis, Russ DeSantis

In attendance at the meeting was Eatontown Councilwoman Virginia East. The Eatontown Planning Board considered plans for the renovation of Monmouth Mall during a meeting on Monday, April 16, 2018. / Russ DeSantis for the Asbury Park Press Russ DeSantis, Russ DeSantis

Board Chairman Mark Woloshin is pictured prior to the meeting. The Eatontown Planning Board considered plans for the renovation of Monmouth Mall during a meeting on Monday, April 16, 2018. / Russ DeSantis for the Asbury Park Press Russ DeSantis, Russ DeSantis

Patrick J. McNamara, Partner, (left) and Roshan D. Shah. Counsel, both of Scarinci|Hollenbeck Attorneys at Law confer prior to the meeting. The Eatontown Planning Board considered plans for the renovation of Monmouth Mall during a meeting on Monday, April 16, 2018. / Russ DeSantis for the Asbury Park Press Russ DeSantis, Russ DeSantis

Edward R. Bradford (framed by audience) of The Architectural Team, Inc, testifies before the board. The Eatontown Planning Board considered plans for the renovation of Monmouth Mall during a meeting on Monday, April 16, 2018. / Russ DeSantis for the Asbury Park Press Russ DeSantis, Russ DeSantis

A projected slideshow is reflected in the eyeglasses of Board Attorney Andrew Bayer (left) and Edward W. Herrman, Group Manager of T&M Associates. The Eatontown Planning Board considered plans for the renovation of Monmouth Mall during a meeting on Monday, April 16, 2018. / Russ DeSantis for the Asbury Park Press Russ DeSantis, Russ DeSantis

A slide of the proposed renovation is framed between members of the audience. The Eatontown Planning Board considered plans for the renovation of Monmouth Mall during a meeting on Monday, April 16, 2018. / Russ DeSantis for the Asbury Park Press Russ DeSantis, Russ DeSantis

Board Chairman Mark Woloshin turns the page of the plans. The Eatontown Planning Board considered plans for the renovation of Monmouth Mall during a meeting on Monday, April 16, 2018. / Russ DeSantis for the Asbury Park Press Russ DeSantis, Russ DeSantis

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The building has eight outdoor courtyards, ground floor retail and commercial uses as well as parking garages.

About 15 residents — some of them returning to the microphone more than once — questioned Bradford for an hour on the design and the buffer between existing residential neighborhoods.

Residents raised concerns over building heights, the position of balconies, and the effectiveness of the buffer, among other issues.

"There's no reason to shove all 700 of those apartments into one corner of the property," said Christine Caruso, who suggested the rental units be placed on the mall proper.

Board Chairman Mark Woloshin agreed with the public's requests to see floor plans for the apartments, a drawing of the buffer design with leafless trees, in order to see how it would perform in the winter. He also wanted to know if the apartments would allow pets.

The board also heard testimony from project engineer Christopher Roche from Langan, a Parsippany-based engineering group. The board may begin with more of his testimony at the next meeting, scheduled for May 7.

There is a legal challenge to the mall proposal. A group of four residents have a pending lawsuit to overturn the necessary zoning for the mall, called the Mixed Use Regional Center Zone.

The group, represented by Edward Liston, is also challenging the board's jurisdiction to hear the application because. They claim the plan requires a zoning variance.

The group also alleges conflicts exist with three sitting members of the board — all former Borough Council members who voted for the zoning ordinance that allowed the redevelopment uses.